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LEONHARD rfTEJNEGER.
A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LAGOPODES BELONGING TO THE GROUP ATTAGEN RAUP.
By Leonhard Stejneger.
(Plate V.)
When examining the. Ptarmigans from the different islands of the
Aleutian Chain a short time ago I was compelled to go over an extensive series of these birds in order to decide upon their rautual relationship.
This group of birds is more difficult than perhapsany other on ac- count of the peculiarity of the almost continuous moulting, by which the different plumages usually are blended and mixedtosuch a degree, that specimens in this füll plumage of a certain season — except the winter- plumage — are rather searce even in very extensive collections. It is also of the greatest importance, that the specimens should be accurately labelled as to locality and date, as birds from the different habitats will have to be compared while in absolutely corresponding plumages. Only the most serious mistakes will result — and have indeed resulted — by making conclnsions from a specimen in spring-plumage of one form as compared with one in autumnal dress of another form.
I present the following notes particularly for the reason that I have had a comparatively rieh material at hand, especially of American birds.
It is, however, by far less complete than could be desired, and I would be very obliged for specimens of adult males in summer-plumage from any locality.
It is but expected that some over-zealous ornithologist will sneer at the author for belonging to «C. L. Brehm's family» or for »Splitting hairs».If soundand correct the views, expressed in the following revision, will survive the sneers ; in the mean time I will be very glad by having them thoroughly tested. download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LAGOPODES. 87
1. Lagopus nmta x (Montin) Coll.
1758. — Tetrao lagopus, Lin., Syst. Nat. 10 ed. p. 159 (part).
1776. — Tetrao mutus Montin, Physiogr. Sälsk. Handl I (p. 155).
1807. — Tetrao rupestris Bechst, Gem. Naturg. Deutschi. III p. 1358.
1817. — Tetrao alpinus Nills., Orn. Sv. I (p. 311). 1874. — Lagopus alpinus var scandinacica Sundev., Öfr. Sv. Vet. Ac.
Handl. 1874, n. 3, p. 19. 1874. — Lagopus mutus var mutus Ridgw., in B. Br. Ridgw. Birds N.
Amer. III p. 456 (part).
1877. — Lagopus mutus Collett, N. Mag. Naturw. XXIII, p. 163. The Scandinavian Ptarmigan may be distinguished fromthe South-
European form by being slightly smaller, and by having, on the average, the white at the base of the exterior tailfeathers more developed. The differences in color are slight, but perceptible, especially in the postästival
2 plumage which is purer gray. This form inhabits the high mountains and northern parts of Nor- way and Sweden, and is said to occur eastwards through southern Sibe- ria in high altitudes (cfr. Saunders, Yarr. Brit. Birds 4 ed. III p. 86). Its oc- curence in Japan as recorded with query by capt. Blakiston (Amend. List
B. Jap. 1 884 p. 43) on the authority of Mr. Seerohm's identification (Ibis
1 884 p. 35) seems more than doubtful, as the Japanese birds probably belong to a distinct form. In northern Siberia it is replaced by another form, possibly L. rupestris (cfr. Saunders 1. c). In the lOth edition of Systema Naturalis Linnens knows but one species of ptarmigan (Tetrao lagopus) the description being equally appli- cable to both the European species, but in Fauna Svecica 2 ed. (1761) and in the 12th edition (1766) he recognizes a ((Alpina varietas minor», thus restrictingT^rao lagopus particularly to the species afterwards known
1 The grammatical gender of Lagopus is either masculine and both are col- lect. Plinius (X. 68.) uses it as feminine, but most conclusive.is that Biisson, the founder of the modern name follows his exaniple. »Lagopus Briss.» is certainly
feminine ! 2 I use the opportunity for correcting a mistake of Mr. Türner in his va- luable memoir «On Lagopus mutus, Leach, and its allers» (P. U. S. N. M. 1882. pp. ±27 and 282), vvhere Nr. 33546 is given as killed in Norway in July. It is fron) Oberhasli in Switzerland, and killed in June. download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
88 LEONHARD STEJNEGER.
1 as albus. It is therefore not correct when Gray (Handl. II p. 278) quotes T. lagopus L. under mutus as have so many authors both before and
after. In 1769 Sgopoli (Ann. 1. Hist. Nat. p. 118) refers T. lagopus
to the South-European form : «rostro maculaque inter oculum et
rostrum atris» .... and about its summer-plumage which he describes
asavariety;' he remarks «hoc est altevum Lagopodis Genus in Hel-
vetiae montibas». Aldrov.L. 13, C. 21. Gmelin in 1 788 follows him herein
although fully aware of the fact that Montin in 1776 had distinctly dis- posedof «Tetrao lagopus» forthe Willow Ptarmigan, naming the Skandi- navian form of the T. mutus.
l.a. Lagopus muta vulgaris (VieillJ Stejnegeb.
1758. — Tetrao lagopus Lin., Syst. Nat. 10. ed. p. 159 (part.)
1769. — Tetrao lagopus Sgop., Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 118.
1816. — Lagopus mutus Leagh, Gat. M. et B. Br. Mus. (p. 27).
1817. — Lagopus vulgaris Vieill., N. Dict. d'Hist. Nat. XVII, p. 199
(part.)
1817. — Lagopus mutans Forster, Synopt. Gat. Br. B. p. 19.
18:23. — Tetrao montanus Brehm, Lehrb. Eur. Vög. p. 448.
1835. — Tetrao rupestris Jenyns, Man. Brit. Vert. An. (171).
1837. — Lagopus cinereus Maegill., Hist. Brit. Birds I p. 187.
1860. — Lagopus alpinus minor Brehm, J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 393.
187'4. — Lagopus alpinus var meridionalis Sundev., Öfr. Sv.Vet. Ac.Handl.
1874, n. 3, p. 19.
1 874. — Lagopus mutus var. mutus Bidgw. in B. Br. and Ridgw. Birds
N. Amer. III. p. 456 (part.)
The chief differences from the foregoing form, of which it is only a
subspecies, are indicated under the head of the latter.
Having had no speeimens from Great Britain I am unable to say
with certainty, if the Ptarmigan, which resides in the Scotch mountains
is absolutely identical with that inhabiting Southern Europe.
Hab : The Alps of Southern Europe, the Pyrenean Mountains, and
it is probably the same form which inhabits Scotland.
1 This species will therefore have to stand as Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
A BRIEF REVIEW OE THE LAGOPODES. 89
2. Lagopus ridgwayi Stejneger.
(Plate V.)
1883. — Lagopüs albus Stejneger, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1883 p. 72 (nee
Gmel) (cfr. «The Auk» 1884 p. 82).
1884. — Lagopus ridgwayi Stejneger, Pr. Biol. Soc. Washingt. II p. 98.
A well circumseribed form, characterized by its blackish prepectus in preästival plumage, its saturated f'errugineous-brown color, the lack of whitish or grayish edgings to the feathers, and the blackish color of abdomen and tibia in the postastival plumage. Bill proportionally larger than in tbe allied forms. At present only known as an inhabitant of the Commander Group of the Alcutian Islands, and is most likely only an isolated insular species not at all oecuring on the neighbouring Kamtschatka. The figure represents a male in perfect postastival plumage, Nr.
89062 U. S. Nat. Mus., collected by nie at Lissenkovaja, Bering Island,
August 23, 1882, one of the types of the species, and is the result of Mr.
J. L. Ridarway's skill. I am indebted to the authorities of the National Mu- seum for permission of having it published in connection with the pre- sent paper.
3. Lagopus hyperborea (Sundw.) Malmgeen.
1827. — Tetrao lagopus Ross, in Parry, Att. read. Northpole (p. 193)
(nee Lin). 1843. — Lagopus alpinus var. hyperborea Sundev., in Gaimard, Voy. Sean-
din, livr. 18 pl.
1858. — Lagopus hcmileuciirus Gould, P. Z. S, 1858 p. 354.
1863. — Lagopus hyperborea Malmgr., Ofr. Sv. Vel. Ac. Hand. 186:; |>. 1874. — Lagopus rupestris var. hyperborea Sundev, Ofr. Sv. Vet. Acad.
Handl. 1874, n. 3. p. 19.
The Spetsbergen Ptarmigan may be regarded as a distinet specii is
on aecount of its superior size, and the distinetness of the color of its
surnmer-plumage, together with the large amount of white on the t.iil-
feathers. It also seems as it only assumes one summer-pluin.ige. Only known from Spetsbergen. download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
90 LEÖNHARD STE.JNEGER.
4. Lagopus islandorum (Fabee) Bp.
1786. — Tetrao lagopus Mohr, Isl. Naturh. p. 49 (nee Lin.)
1822. — Tetrao islandorum Faber, Prodr. Isl. Orn. (p. 6.)
1823. — Tetrao islandicus Brehm, Lehrb. Eur.Vög. p. 440.
1844. — Tetrao lagopus islandicus Sghleg., Rev. Grit. p. LXXVI.
1856. — Lagopus islandorum Bonap., Catal. Parzud. p. 13.
1862. — Lagopus rupestris ß islandorum Blas. List. Eur. B. p. 16.
1871. — Lagopus mutus a islandorum Dubus, Gonsp. Av. Europ. p. 21.
Having no material at hand at present, I am unable to point out the characters and affinities of tbe present form with certainty. lt is there- fore kept as a species provisionally until it can be satisfactorily demon- strated, whether it is speeifieally or only subspeeifieally distinet, and in the latter case to what species it really belongs. lt is said to be distin- guished by a heavier bill, larger size and browner plumage than its next allies. A not unimportant character seems to be that the females in the winter-plumage have a very broad black transocular stripe, fully as large a? the males.
Inhabits Iceland, as its name indicates.
5. Lagopus rupestris (Gm.) Leach.
1788. — Tetrao rupestris Gm., Syst. Nat. I. p. 751.
1817. — Lagopus rupestris Leach, Zool. Mise II p. 290.
1818. — Tetrao lagopus Sabine, Trans. Lin. Soc. XII (p. 530).
1831. — Tetrao (Lagopus) mutus Rich. Faun. Bor. Amer. II p. 350 (part).
? 1839. — Lagopus americanus Aud. Syn. (p. 207). 1874. — Lagopus rupestris var. occidentalis Sundev., Ofr. Sv. Vet. Ac.
Handl. 1874 n. 3 p. 19. 1874. — Lagopus mutus var. rupestris Ridgw., inB. Br. and Ridgw. Birds
N. Amer III p. 462. No European Ptarmigan in preästival plumage will match the same plumage of rupestris, nor will the postästival garb ofthe latter ever assume a color like that of the autumnal dress of its European relatives. download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LAGOPODES. 91
In rupestris the prepectus is never uniform blackish, but is, on the con- trary, always distinctly barred. 1
The Rock Ptarmigan inhabits Arctic America and is presumed to be the form occurring on the Siberian tundras as far west as Yenisey.
5a. Lagopus rupestris reinhardti (Bebhm) Blasitjs.
1780. — Tetrao lagopus Fabric., Faun. Groenl. p. 114. (nee Lin). 1823. — Tetrao reinhardi Brehm, Lehrb. Eur. Vög.'p. 440.
1826. — Tetrao reinhardti Brehm, Oken's Isis 1826 p. 930.
1855. — Lagopus groenlandicus Brehm, Naum. 1855 p. 287.
1862. — Lagopus rupestris 7 reinhardti Blas. List Eur. B. p. 16.
1871. — Lagopus mutus ß reinhardti Dübus, Gonsp. Av. Eur. p. 21. 1874. — Lagopus rupestris var. occidentalis Sundev., Ofr. Sv. Acad.
Handl. 1874. n. 3. p. 19 (pari.)
This is the Eastern or Greenlandic race of the Rock Ptarmigan. So
far I can detect, this form offers the peculiarity that the females are easier distinguishable from the mainland race tban the males. They are much
more narrowly banded, and present a much darker and less orange co- lored appearance. 2
It has been shown by Mr. Turner, that it is the Greenland Ptarmi-
gan which breeds at Gumberland Gulf, a conclusion which seems to me
fully correct. I have based my judgement upon the same material.
5b. Lagopus rupestris nelsoiii Stejnegee.
1858. — Tetrao lagopus v. Kittl, Denkw. Reise I, p. 289.
1873. — Lagopus albus Dall, Notes Avif. Aleut. lsl. from Unal. eastw.
p. 4, (nee Gmel).
1883. — Lagopus rupestris Nelson, Cruise Corwin p. 81 no 79. 1884. — Lagopus rupestris nelsoni Stejneger, the Auk 1884 p.
1 Mr. Turner 1. c. remarks that U. S. Nat. Mus. Nr. 34120 from Lapland and No. 43686 from the Barren Grounds of Arctic America are identical in plumage.
The difference pointed out above is very plainly visihle, however. 2 Tlie Greenland form has two very distinet summer-plurnages. Nr. 20317
(U. S. Nat. Mus.) the sex of which Turner (1. c.) doubts is reallj a male in the
finely vermiculated postästival plumage, and it i< iml killed in July, the label imli-
cating it as oblained in the «fall» (autumn).
Zeitschrift für Ornithologie. ' download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
92 LEONHARD STEJNEGER.
A fairly recognisable race of the Rock Ptarmigan, characterised by its dark brown color. With the following it shares the peculiarity, that
the preästival plumage is scarcely barred but only finely vermiculated with black, thus resembling the postastival plumage of allied forms. Postastival plumage not known.
5c. Lagopus rupestris atkhensis (Turner) Nelson.
1874. — Lagopus albus Dall, Avif. Aleut. Isl. from Unal. westw., p. 5, (nee Gmel.)
1882. Lagopus mutus atkhensis Turner, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1882. p. 230.
1883. — Lagopus rupestris occidentalis Nelson, Cruise, Corwin, p. 82. (nee Sundev. 1874).
1 883. — Lagopus rupestris atkhensis Nelson, Gruise Corwin p. 56 s + ß 82. Like the foregoing but much paler. Has a simüarly finely vermicu-
lated preästival plumage as L. r. nelsoni, closely resembling the autumn
plumage of other Lagopodes. I have, however, examined the speeimens
myself andhave foundthem to be in the first plumage following the white
one. Only the preästival plumage is known.
Of very restricted distribution, as it only oecurs in Atkha and pro- bably the other western Aleutian Islands belonging to the United States.
6. Lagopus leueura Swains.
1831. — Lagopus leueurus Swains, in Sw. and Richards, Faun. Bor. Amer
II. pl. 63.
This species is easily distinguished from all its congeners by having
all the rectrices white at all seasons. Owing to this striking character
and its comparatively restricted ränge of distribution it has escaped
the fate of being burdened with Synonyms like the other members of the genus Lagopus. Habitat. Rocky Monutains and Cascade Mountains, North America. Smithsonian Institution.
Washington D. G. April 1884. s download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
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